Register



July 2, 1957 D. w. MURPHY ETAL 2,797,871

REGISTER Filed Dec. 11, 1952 FIG.2

46 so as 1 INVENTQRS H65 DONALD w. MURPHY PAUL M. HOLSING ATTORNtEY nnorsrnn Donald W. Murphy, Manhattan Beach, and Paul I-Iolsing, Burbank, Calif.; Viola K. Holsing, administratrix of said Paul M. Holsing, deceased Application December 11, 1952, Serial No. 325,346

12 Claims. (Cl. 235-113) This invention pertains to a register, and more particularly to a register adapted for use as a counter for scoring games.

It is often desirable in a game to have a convenient means of scoring which will allow the player of the game to concentrate on the game rather than concerning himself with remembering the score. Such a device should be readily transportable, rugged and foolproof. This invention comprises such a counter which utilizes three cog wheel units in providing a very simple mechanism for accomplishing the results.

Therefore it is an object of this invention to provide a register characterized by its convenience of use, accuracy and reliability. I

Another object of this invention is to provide a register that is simple and economical to manufacture, being adapted to modern mass production techniques.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a register that will record a sum of numbers for an individual scoring problem and in addition record a cumulative sum of numbers.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a register that is simple to operate to obtain a sum of numbers and which may readily be returned to a zero reading.

These and other objects will become apparent from the following detailed description takenin connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is an elevational view of the exterior of the counter; V

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the counter with the dial removed;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the counter with the numeral discs removed;

rates liatent 2,797,871 Patented July 2, 1957 ice 1i) and 11 are mounted in the case on pins 15, 16 and 17,

respectively. By the action of these units a score from zero to nine will be visible through aperture 5 while a score. from zero to ninety-nine will be indicated through windows 6 and 7, all of which will be made more clear hereinafter.

In Fig. 3 the counter is shown with the numeral dials removed so that cog or gear wheels 18, 19 and 20, which. form a part of the cog wheel assemblies, can be seen. Both the numeral disc andthe cog wheel of each assembly are locked to the pin in a suitable manner so as to rotate simultaneously. Cog wheel assembly 9 further includes a smaller ratchet wheel 21 also mounted firmly on pin 15. This cog wheel assembly is rotatable in a suitable manner by operating plunger 8. Thus, for example, the plunger may include a narrow portion 22 which passes through I an opening 23 in the case of the counter, and further includes an enlarged bottom portion 24 which is of greater dimensions than the opening. Leaf spring element 25, suitably secured in the case such as by pins 26 and 27, engages the lower edge of portion 24 and keeps the operating button normally in an up position as shown. A ratchet finger 28 is pivotally mounted on the bottom por tion 24 and by means of spring 29 is kept in engagement with one of teeth 30 of ratchet wheel 21. Guide means 31 may further be provided for portion 24 of the opcrating means.

The operation of cog wheel assembly 9 is in the usual manner of a ratchet driven device. When the operating button is depressed, ratchet finger 28 moves ratchet wheel 21 in a clockwise direction advancing the wheel a distance corresponding to one tooth of the cog wheel. When the operating button is subsequently released, spring 25 returns the button to the normal up position, ratchet finger 28 slips back one tooth on the ratchet wheel and is ready to again advance the wheel upon actuation of the button.

When there are ten numerals inscribed on numeral disc 12, and where the ratchet arrangement is designed to advance ratchet wheel 21 the distance of one tooth upon operation of the operating button, ratchet wheel 21 should be provided with a total of ten teeth. This number of teeth corresponds to the ten markings (from zero to nine) on the numeral disc and assures that the disc is advanced the space of one numeral for each depression of the operating button. In other words, by the ten-- tooth ratchet arrangement, one stroke of the operating;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the first cog wheel unit I and drive;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view with the case in section; and

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the counter showing the mounting arrangement of the cog wheel units.

Counter 1, as illustrated, is adapted to be worn on the wrist as a watch is worn or could be adapted to be carried in a pocket. The counter includes a case 2 having a transparent covering 3 over dial 4 which is provided with apertures or windows 5, 6 and 7 therethrough. Numerals are visible through the apertures which give a reading of the score to be counted. The unit illustrated is particularly well adapted for scoring a game of golf. For this purpose the score for the individual holes can be read through aperture 5 while the cumulative score is indicated preferred embodiment is providedwith indicating nuplunger advances cog wheel assembly 9 in a normal direction an angular distance of one tenth of a revolution. The numeral disc should be located on pin 15 in relation to cog 21 in such a manner that a numeral thereon will be clearly visible through aperture 5 for each position of the cog wheel after operation of button 8.

A spring 32 may be provided to act as a detent in keeping wheel 18, and thus wheels 21 and 12, in position after each operation of the plunger. The spring is yieldable so that it may be overcome by the actuation of the cog wheel assembly 9 through the operating plunger mechamsm.

Also included with wheel 18 is a coil spring 33 which is suitably anchored in the case on pin 34 and which winds up, increasing in tension, as cog wheel assembly 9 is ro tated normally.

Cog wheel 18 meshes with cog wheel 19 which is of equal diameter and has an equal number of teeth. Therefore wheel 19 and disc 12 move equally and simultaneously when wheel 18 is moved, but normally in a counterclockwise direction, also being advanced a tenthof a revolution for each push of the button.

3 of the button; Leaf spring 35 is provided for wheel 19 which acts as a detent for maintaining the wheel in po sition, but which is readily overcome when the counter is operated.

Cog wheel 20 of cog wheel unit 11 does not mesh with either wheel 18 or wheel 19'. However, wheel 19 does include a projecting pin or offset tooth 36- adapted" to engage wheel 20 which may best be seen in Fig. 5. Tooth 36 is arranged so that once every revolutioni of wheel 19 it will contact a tooth of wheel 20 and thereby intermittently advance the latter wheel in a clockwise direction. In the preferred embodiment, wheel: 20 is provided with ten teeth, so that ofisettooth 36 will advance wheel 20 a fraction of a; revolution corresponding to one tooth, or in other words one tenth of a revolution, for each complete revolution of wheel. 19.

Disc- 14 is of course suitably mounted on pin 17 so that a numeral thereon will be' clearly visible through. window 7 for each stationary position of wheel 20. Detent 37 is provided for engaging wheel 20 and retainingit in position, but may be" overcome bythe action of offset tooth 36.

Cog wheelassembly 11 also isprovided with a coil spring 38 which is'anchored' in the case by pin 39 and winds up to increased tension as wheel 20 is rotated normally.

After scoring has been completed and it isdesired to' return the numeral'discs so that they register zero again,

the operating button is firstmanipulated so that disc 13 indicates zero through window 6. Thearrangement for returning the other wheels is best seen in Fig; 6 where the cog wheels are shown removed for purposes of clarity. Pin 15, holding cog wheel assembly 9, is mounted on a lever assembly 40. Lever 41, pivotally mounted in the case on pin 42, carries pin.15 near one-end. The op posite: end of lever 41Lengagesa-second lever 43-which' is pivotally mounted on pin 44. Lever 43 projects through s1ot':45.in the case and is therefore accessible" from out side'the case: A spring element 46-maintains the levers in'theposition shown with lever 41 against stop 47 and lever 43 against stop 48;

Returning disc 12 to the position of zeroreading is accomplished by merely moving'lever 43'tothe-positionshown. in phantom. This moves lever 41 against pin- 16 (which acts as a stop) to the position shown in phantom. Thisdisengages wheel-18 from-wheel 19, from ratchet finger 28'and1from detent 32. Coil spring 33 to. give. a zero reading through. window 5. The stop maybe simply a tab 49 projectingfrom wheel- 18 which will engage pin 50, carried by lever 41,- and which willpreclude further rotation of wheelwassembly 9.

Stop means: are: provided to cause wheel It should be observed. that. wheeliasse'mbly 9 may in this manner be returnedto a' zero readingiwithout mo' lesting the setting of the other wheels. Thus while wheel assemblies. 10 and 11 are adding'up' a total: cumulativescore, wheel assembly 9 may be repeatedly returned to zero so that it may. add up individual scores.

Wheel assembly ll is mounted in a generally similar manner to the mounting of assembly 9. Thus a lever 51, pivotally mounted on pin.52,, carries'pin. 17 and engages -a.second:lever 53. The latter is pivotally secured in the case on pin .54- and extends thr'ough;slot:55 :in the' case so that it is accessible from the exterion: Spring 56.maintains..the levers normally in the-positionrshown with lever 51. againststop pin 57 and lever." 537m; en

gagement witl1.stop-pin.58. To return wheel: assembly.

37and' from possible interferencezwith oflset -tootht36.

Coil"spring"38" then unwinds, reversing the rotation of 75 wheel assembly 20. The assembly is stopped so that disc 14 will give a zero reading by means of tab' 60 projecting from wheel 20 engaging pin 61, carried by lever 51, which will preclude further rotation. The counter is then cleared to zero and is ready for re-use.

Certain modifications and changes in structure may be made from that of the preferred embodiment described above without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, some or all of the numerals for the cog wheel assemblies may be inscribed directly on the cogwheels, ehminating the necessity of separate numeral discs. It is also possible to arrange the actuating mechanism so that the ratchet finger operates directly on cog wheel 18 rather than on a separate cog wheel 21. Or the actuating arrangement could be adapted to directly rotate wheel assembly 10 rather than directly rotating wheel assembly 9. Furthermore, it is obvious that the cog wheel assemblies could be mounted in a housing differing somewhat from the case illustrated, or they could be mounted on a separate frame to be subsequently inserted in a housing, and the term case as used herein is intendedto' include such arrangements.

It'should be clearly'understood that the foreg'oing'detailed'd'escription is given by way of illustration and exampleonly; the spirit and scope'of this" inventionbeing" said second cog wheel means being laterallyand axially fixed and including means for engaging the third of'said cog wheel means and operative for rotating said third cog wheel means a predetermined fraction ofarevolu tion for each revolution of'said second'cog wheel means;

means for effecting rotation of said first and secondcogwheel means; and laterally movable means for causing said first and said third cog wheel means to return to a predetermined position independent of said second cog wheel means.

2. A device as recited in claim 1 in which said means for eliecting rotation of said first and second cog wheel means comprises a plunger member operable from the exterior of said case, and ratchet means associated there with'for engaging said first cog wheel means.

3. A counter comprising case means; a first rotatable means mounted in said case means; a second laterally and axially fixed rotatable means mounted in said case means, saidsecond rotatable means operatively engaging said first rotatable means whereby said first andse'cond means rotate simultaneously; a third rotatable means mounted in said case means, said second rotatable means including a projecting portion for intermittently engaging said third rotatable means, whereby said third rotatable meansis rotated at predetermined fraction of arevolution for every one-revolution of said second rotatable means; laterally movable manually operable'means fordisengaging said first rotatable means from said second rotatable means and returning said first rotatable means to a predetermined position; and laterally movable manually operable means forindependently returning'said third-rotatable' means to a predetermined position.

4. A counter comprising acase; a first cog wheel means rotatablymounted in said case; ratchet means engaging said first" cog wheel means for effecting'intermittent fractional rotation thereof; a second'cog wheelmeans 'operatively engaging said first cog wheel means for rotation therewith, said second'cogwheel means being free for rotation-'by-said first cog wheel-means through aniinfinite numberof successive codirectional revolutions "and including a pin projecting therefrom; a' third cog 'whe'el' means rotatably mounted in said case, said thirdcog'" wheel means being disposed relative'to' said second cog wheel meanstwhereby it-isengaiged by said pin during'a' fractional portion of each revolufion of said second cog a rogant wheel means, whereby said third cog wheel means is advanced a predetermined fraction of a revolution for every one revolution of said second cog wheel means; manually operable return means for rotating said first cog wheel means whereby said first cog wheel means is returnable to a predetermined position independent of said other cog Wheel means, said return means including a spring and a stop; and manually operable return means for rotating said third cog wheel means whereby said third cog wheel means is returnable to a predetermined position, said last mentioned return means including a spring and a stop; each of said cog wheel means being provided with indicator markings thereon.

A counter comprising a case; a first cog wheel means rotatably mounted in said case; a second cog wheel means rotatably mounted in said case, said second cog wheel means being normally in engagement with said first cog wheel means for equal and simultaneous rotation therewith, said second cog wheel means being rotatable by said first cog wheel means through an infinite number of successive codirectional revolutions; means for etiecting fractional rotation of said first and said second cog wheel means; third cog wheel means rotatably mounted in said case, said second cog wheel means including means cooperating with said third cog wheel means whereby a single revolution of said second cog wheel means rotates said third cog wheel means a predetermined fraction of a revolution; laterally movable manually operable means for independently returning said first cog wheel means to a predetermined position; and laterally movable manually operable means for independently returning said third cog wheel means to a predetermined position, each of said cog wheel means being provided with indicator markings thereon.

6. A counter comprising a case; a first cog wheel means; means for rotatably mounting said first cog wheel means in said case, reciprocable means engaging said first cog wheel means and operative for rotating said first cog wheel means in a normal direction; a second cog wheel means; means for rotatably mounting said second cog wheel means in said case, said second cog wheel means being in operative engagement with said first cog wheel means whereby said second cog wheel means normally rotates equally with said first cog wheel means; a third cog wheel means; means for rotatably mounting said third cog wheel means in said case; pin means secured to and carried by said second cog wheel means for engaging said third cog wheel means during a fractional portion of each revolution of said second cog wheel means for thereby advancing said third cog wheel means a predetermined fraction of a revolution for each revolution of said second cog wheel means; retention means for retaining said third cog wheel means in each position to which said third means is so advanced, said mounting means for said third cog wheel means including laterally movable return means for disengaging said third cog wheel means from said retention means and independently returning said third cog wheel means to a predetermined position; said mounting means for said first cog wheel means including laterally movable return means for dis engaging said first cog wheel means from said second cog wheel means and independently returning said first cog wheel means to a predetermined position; said cog wheel means being each provided with indicator markings thereon.

7. A device as recited in claim 6 in which said third cog wheel means is provided with ten teeth whereby for said fractional engagement said pin individually and successively contacts each of said teeth on successive revolutions thereof for advancing said third cog wheel means one tenth of a revolution for every complete revolution of said second cog wheel means.

8. A counter comprising a case; a first rotatable means, said first rotatable means including a cog wheel; means for mounting said first rotatable means in said case; manually operable means projecting beyond said case and operable for effecting rotation of said first rotatable means; a second rotatable means; means for mounting said second rotatable means in said case, said second rotatable means including a cog wheel meshingly engaging said first mentioned cog wheel, said cog wheels having an equal number of teeth; a third rotatable means, said third rotatable means including a cog wheel; means for mounting said third rotatable means in said case; detent means for maintaining said third rotatable means in a stationary position said rotatable means being provided with an equal number of indicator markings thereon; a pin secured to and carried by said second rotatable means and adapted to engage a tooth of said last mentioned cog wheel for overcoming said detent and advancing said last mentioned cog wheel in a normal direction of rotation; means associated with said mounting means for said third rotatable means for disengaging said third rotatable means from said detent and from said pin and subsequently rotating said third rotatable means to a predetermined position; said mounting means for said first cog wheel means including means associated therewith for disengaging said first mentioned cog wheel from said second mentioned cog wheel, and said first rotatable means from said manually operable means, for subsequently rotating said first rotatable means to a predetermined position. 1 I

9. A counter comprising a case; a first cog wheel means; means for rotatably mounting said first cog wheel means in said case; intermittently operable means engaging said first cog wheel means for effecting rotation of said first cog Wheel means in a normal direction; a second cog wheel means; means for rotatably mounting said second cog wheel means in said case, said second cog Wheel means being in operative engagement with said first cog wheel means whereby said second cog wheel means is equally rotatable therewith; a third cog wheel means; means for rotatably mounting said third cog wheel means in said case; pin means secured to and carried by said second cog Wheel means and adapted to engage said third cog wheel means on each rotation of said second cog wheel means for advancing said third cog wheel means in a normal direction of rotation an amount less than one revolution; means for retaining said third cog wheel means in each position so advanced; manually operable means for laterally shifting said third cog wheel means, thereby disengaging said third cog wheel means from said second cog wheel means and from said retaining means and operable for returning said third cog wheel means to a predetermined position; and manually operable means for laterally shifting said first cog wheel means, thereby disengaging said first cog wheel means from said second cog wheel means and from said intermittently operable means and operable for returning said first cog wheel means to a predetermined position.

10. A counter comprising a case; three rotatable units mounted in said case, each of said units being provided with an equal number of indicator markings thereon, said case including cover means having apertures therethrough whereby said indicator markings are visible; each of said units including a cog wheel associated therewith, the cog wheels of the first and second of said units being normally in meshing engagement for equal simultaneous rotation; means associated with said second unit adapted to drivingly engage the third of said units during a fractional portion of each complete rotation of said second unit; means operable from the exterior of said case for efiecting rotation of said first and second units; means operable from the exterior of said case for disengaging said first and second cog wheels and automatically rotating said first unit to a predetermined angular position; and means operable from the exterior of said case for automatically rotating said third unit to a predetermined angular position.

11. A device as recited in claim 10 including in addition detent means for yieldably retaining said first and second units in a stationary position; and detent'means'for yieldably retaining said third unit in a stationary position, said means for disengaging said first and second cog wheels including lever means for mounting said first unit in said case, said lever means being laterally shiftable to thereby move said first cog wheel to a position remote from said second cog wheel and from said first mentioned detent means, and further including a spring for rotating said first wheel when so disengaged and a stop associated with said lever means for terminating said rotation at said predetermined angular position.

12. A counter comprising a case, said case including a cover plate; three cog wheel assemblies; means for rotatably mounting said cog wheel assemblies in said case, each of said assemblies being provided with indicator markings thereon, said cover plate having openings therein whereby said indicator markings are visible from the exterior of said case; manually operable means for rotating the first 20 of said assemblies, said means including a'plunger member projecting beyond said case; said first and second assemblies including cog wheels having an equal number of teeth and disposed whereby they are normally in meshing engagement whereby said Wheels rotate equally and simultaneously; said second assembly having a projecting pin rotatable therewith; the third of said assemblies including a cog wheel, said pin being adapted to engage a single tooth of saidthird cog wheel during a fractional portion of each revolution of said second assembly whereby saidthird-assembly is advanced a predetermined fraction of a revolution for each complete revolution of said second assembly; detent means engaging said third asserribly-for yieldabl-y retaining said assembly in a stationary position; said mounting means for said third assembly including a lever projecting'beyond said case and movable to shift said third cog wheel to a position remote frorn'said second assembly and said detent; spring means mounted in said case and engaging said third assembly for rotating said third assembly whenso shifted; stop means for precluding rotation of said third assembly by said-spring means beyond a predetermined position; said mounting means for said first assembly including a lever projecting beyond said case and movable to shift said first cog wheel to a position remote from said second assembly; a second spring means mounted in said case and engaging said first assembly for rotating said first assembly whenso shifted; and stop means for precluding rotation of said first assembly by said second spring means beyond apredetermined position.

Weston Dec. 5, 1899 Beskow Oct. 16, 1923 

